this had to happen

[alocispepraluger102]

(when will the jazz indies get together?)

if and when they get big, they will probably act big.

(from english al jazeera)

Bands such as the Pixies could sell more of their music online via Myspace [GALLO/GETTY]

Thousands of independent record labels have agreed a deal to sell downloads of their music via the networking website, Myspace.

Merlin, a new agency representing the labels, has agreed the deal with San Francisco-based firm Snocap, and will use their retail initiative - Mystore - to enable music to be downloaded via websites including Myspace.

The deal opens up new revenues for the labels behind bands such as the Arctic Monkeys and the White Stripes.

While indie record labels account for about 80 per cent of new music releases, they represent only 30 per cent of total revenues.

The announcements were made at the music industry's influential five-day conference in the French town of Cannes.

Merlin said it would act as the "fifth major" in the world with a view to rectifying the "poor cousin" status of deals previously offered to independent labels.

Martin Mills, who heads the indie music organisation Beggars Group, said: "We'll be the largest major company in the world if we act together."

Corporate deal

Indies in all the European countries as well as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and others have joined Merlin.

The deal with Snocap, which was founded by Napster creator Sean Fanning, is the first of its kind.

A co-founder of Myspace, Chris DeWolfe, said last year that the group hoped to be one of the biggest digital music stores available.

The hugely popular social networking website is now owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.

The major music corporations - Universal Music, Sony BMG, EMI Group and Warner Music - account for 70 per cent of world music sales.

Source: Agencies

Edited January 23, 2007 by alocispepraluger102